Radio receiving apparatus in a miniature piano cabinet having movable keys



March 21, 1950 R. HARRIS ET AL 2,501,050

RADIO RECEIVING APPARATUS IN A MINIATURE PIANO CABINET HAVING'MOVABLE KEYS Filed June 1.6, 1947 RADIO RECEIVER f --=L Liz 51 51 a 90 -r- 74 75 Pi 7 GE gz 10 75 57 76 ll Jj jg-E? 57 J2 1 13554 a 4 zz 54 85 E a 2 v56 I I 1 2 21 22 j INVENTORS m ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 21, 1950 RADIO RECEIVING APPARATUS IN A MINIA- TURE PIANO CABINET HAVING MOVABLE KEYS Robert L. Harris, Culver City, and Abe Frank], Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 16, 1947, Serial No. 754,836

Claims.

The present invention relates to radio receiving apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved radio receiving apparatus characterized by its pleasing appearance, in which the cabinet has the appearance of a baby grand piano with the keys thereof movable to perform control operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved radio receiving apparatus housed within a cabinet having a movable closure member, the housing and its closure member being arranged to allow ventilation of the radio apparatus mounted therein, and the radio apparatus being maintained inoperative so long as the closure member is not suitabl positioned for ventilation of the apparatus.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide improved radio receiving apparatus mounted in a cabinet simulating a baby grand piano, the keys of which are arranged to control station selection, volume control, and to turn the apparatus on and 01T.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide improved radio apparatus arranged in a cabinet having a movable closure member positionable to properly ventilate the apparatus, the radio apparatus being normally inoperative so long as the closure member is not correctly positioned for ventilation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved design for a radio receiver, the design being a substantial simulation of a baby grand piano with the keys thereof movable to perform control operations on the radio apparatus.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a radio receiving apparatus embodying the present invention with the top of the cabinet in operative position. I

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the radio apparatus shown in Figure 1 with the top swung completely open and with a portion of covering cloth fragmented to show some of the internal structure.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a portion of the radio apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the manner in which some of the keys designated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 are interlocked, and

Figure 5 is a section view showing the manner in which the piano keys may be utilized to perform a control operation.

In accordance with the present invention we provide radio apparatus mounted in a cabinet simulating a baby grand piano in miniature form with the keys of the piano arranged to control not only station selection but also volume control and the energization and deenergization of the radio apparatus, a subsidiary feature of the invention residing in the provision of a movable top on the piano which serves to prevent the radio apparatus from becoming energized and unduly heated so long as the cover member is in closed position wherein it impairs ventilation of the radio apparatus within the piano.

The radio apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be tuned to preselected stations by operation of one of the selected station keys I!) and may be tuned over a continuous range upon rotation of the manual control knob H, operation of the key 12 being essential to switch the tuning control from the keys In to the knob II. The particular tuning circuits and connection to the operable switches may be in accordance with conventional practice. The receiving apparatus may be switch on or energized with current from household mains upon actuation of the on key M, provided, however, the top member I5 is in raised position for reasons described below. The receiving apparatus may be turned off at any time upon actuation of the o key I5A. The sound volume emanating from the speaker l6 may be controlled selectively upon actuation of any one of the soft, medium or loud volume control keys 20, 2|, 22. Actuation of the key 20 results in a low or soft volume of sound, actuation of the key 2| results in a medium volume and actuation of the key 22 results in a loud volume of sound. Each one of the keys Ill, l2,

it, [5A, 2%, 2i and 22 have the appearance of the keys of the miniature piano cabinet ll and are adapted in accordance with the present invention to be the finger operable members of conventional push button operating switches found today in present day radio sets.

Each one of the piano station keys I!) is mechanically interlocked (as indicated by the dotted line 5'! in Figure 3 and shown more specifically in Figure 4) with the others to assure the retention of the depressed one in the position to which it is manually pressed to actuate a corresponding switch l'3 to maintain corresponding selected tuning condensers 50, 5| in the radio circuit to tune the circuit to a corresponding frequency. Depression of the tuning push button I2 actuates the switch 14 to swing the tuning control from the keys It) to the rotary manual knob l whereby radio stations may be tuned over a continuous range and indicated on the dial scale arrangement 25.

The push button operated switches 52, 53, 55 which are closed respectively upon operation of the keys 20, 2i and 22 serve to connect the volume control lead 18 to difierent points on the volume control potentiometer type of resistance '15 and are interlocked as indicated by the dotted line 58 so that only that one which is depressed is maintained in depressed position. Further, in accordance with conventional practice, the on and off push button switch 10 operated by the keys i l and [5A are interlocked as indicated by the dotted line '12 so that only that one of the keys remains depressed which is last depressed.

The manner in which the piano keys are interlocked as indicated by the dotted lines 5'1, 56 and T2 in Figure 3 is shown in structural form in Figure 4 and Figure 5 in relationship to the piano keys which are each pivoted intermediate its ends at 88 with its free end pm connected at iii to a push button switch rod 82. Each rod 32 is spring biased outwardly by means of a coil compression spring 83, carries a switch element 84 and a combination cam and latching projection 85 which is arranged to cooperate with the latch bar 86 biased by the leaf springs 31. Upon initial inward movement of the rod 82 upon depression of a key it, the latch bar 88 is cammed inwardly by projection 85 to unlatch any previously actuated rod 82; and,

further inward movement of the bar 82 results in latching engagement between projection 85 and bar 85 to maintain bar 82 in switch closing position.

The top E of the radio cabinet which is of course the top of the miniature piano cabinet is hinged on a conventional type of hinge at 30 to a position wherein it no longer engages the movable operating member 31 of switch 32. The top l5 may be maintained in raised position by the pivoted arm 33 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a bracket member 34 to allow its upper free end to engage the bottom surface of the top member I5 wherein it is effective to allow manual control of knob H and vision of the dial scale arrangement 25. The cover i5 may be allowed to move to closed position upon initial upward movement of the cover member i5 whereupon the pivoted lever member 33 is allowed to fall into the confines of the cabinet by gravity forces acting thereon to allow subsequent lowering movement of the cover member i5. When near its lowermost position, the cover member l5 moves the movable actuating member SI of switch 32 thereby to assure deenergization of the radio apparatus.

It is noted that the switches 32 and iii are serially connected in the power circuit 98 to the radio and that it is necessary that both switches it? and 32 be closed bei'ore the radio apparatus is energized. The switch 32 is opened to deenergize the radio apparatus when the cover 15 is moved to closed position and is automatically closed to energize the radio apparatus when the cover I5 is moved to position shown in Figure 1. For this purpose, switch 32 may be a small socalled micro-switch.

Preferably the bottom supporting plate 40 of the miniature piano cabinet has ventilation openings 4i therein and the cloth member 22 forming the upper inside surface is sufiiciently porous to allow free circulation of cooling air through the inner space of the radio cabinet defined by the bottom plate 4B, decorative cloth 12 and side wall 45 in which case the heat developed in the thermionic discharge devices and other associated parts of the radio apparatus disposed in such space is carried away with the cooling air which circulates up through the bottom plate 40 and then up through the porous decorative cloth 42. The cover member 15 when in closed position impairs the flow of cooling air and for that reason the radio apparatus is preferably arranged so that the cover :5 can be raised to the position shown in Figure 1 wherein the free flow of cooling air is not substantially impaired. Thus, undue heating of the radio apparatus is prevented by the provision of the safety switch 32 having actuating member 3| in the path of movement of the cover l5. Also the tone of the radio may be enhanced by playing the radio with the cover I5 in open position. Therefore, the provision of switch 32 having actuating memher 3! in the path of movement of cover 15 assures undue heating and best tone quality.

While the particular embodiments of the pres ent invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. In combination, radio receiving apparatus, a cabinet housing said radio receiving apparatus, said cabinet comprising a miniature piano having its keys movable, tuning means for said radio, and means connected to and actuated upon movement of said keys to operate said tuning means.

2. A radio cabinet arranged to house radio apparatus, said cabinet comprising a miniature baby grand piano with movable keys an on-oii switch connected to said apparatus to control its energization and means connected to and actuated upon movement of said keys to operate said onoiT switch.

3. A radio cabinet comprising a miniature baby grand piano with its keys movable a tone control switch, and means connected to and actuated upon movement of said keys to operate said tone control switch.

4. In combination, radio apparatus, a cabinet housing said radio apparatus, said cabinet comprising a miniature baby grand piano with at least one movable key control means for said radio apparatus, and means connected to and actuated upon movement of said one key to operate said control means, said miniature piano having a movable top, and switch means operated 5 Q upon movement of said top for energizing said radio apparatus UNITED STATES PATENTS 5. In combination, radio apparatus, a miniature u ber Name Date piano cabinet housing said apparatus, the keys of 1,537,228 Gargan May 12, 1925 said miniature piano cabinet being pivotally 1,71 ,465 Acosta Apr. 23, 1929 mounted thereon, control means for said appa- ,956,350 Hammond Apr. 24, 1934 ratus and switch means actuated upon movement FOREIGN PATENTS of said keys to operate said control means to control said radio apparatus. Number Country Date ROBERT HARRIS, 806,180 France Sept. 21, 1936 ABE FRANKL 230,759 Great Britain Mar. 19, 1925 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 16 

